Laurent Gbagbo’s forces stepped up their counter-attack on Alassane Ouattara,
Ivory Coast’s internationally recognised president, by firing on his hotel
headquarters in Abidjan.

Soldiers loyal to the defeated president, who has refused to cede power after
losing an election last November, have continued to fight despite an
onslaught by Mr Ouattara’s forces, who swept from the north to the economic
capital Abidjan almost unopposed more than a week ago.

Mr Ouattara’s men control most of the city — and the country — but successive
onslaughts have failed to prise Mr Gbagbo and his loyalists out of his
bunker. They have used a